Reviews

Mountains of Mourning-A Miles Vorkosigan Hugo and Nebula Winning Novella by Lois McMaster Bujold

kbhenrickson's review against another edition

adventurous reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I listened to this novella (which is included in the Borders of Infinity audiobook) all in one afternoon while working on a gardening project. I can see why it won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novella. I found myself unexpectedly tearing up at the end. I'll go back and listen to the other two novellas in the audiobook when I get to them in the internal chronology of the series, but I'm glad I read this one before moving on to The Vor Game.

whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition

5.0

Poignant in the darkest of ways.

katieinca's review against another edition

4.0

So it turns out I like Bujold's gallavanting adventures, but I like the slow slightly moody ones better. Not that there weren't laughs. But you've got Miles sent into the mountains to try to solve an infanticide case, with tricky cultural baggage, and then introspection about justice (alongside the laughs).
Also no spaceships, but at this point I don't think this former scifi-resister even subconsciously deducts points for spaceships, I must be used to them by now. Right?

kzimm2024's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 stars. A sad story with the feel of the Appalachian poor and backwoods people. A tale of infanticide that had no real happy ending, the murderer was unmasked but no one wins.
It was a peek at the inheritance waiting for Miles and we see his selflessness shine thru as he trades in his shiny new light flyer for communications for these people.

with_the_ranks's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

seriuzbiznus's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

baffi's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mantissabolt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

shalini_gunnasan's review against another edition

4.0

Doubling as a mystery thriller, this novelette was a good read and gave more insight into the "back-country" so often mentioned. Very good, a little sickening - but what happened was true in ancient Earth, and sometimes you hear of it today, too.

eol's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25